Shelf Seas Scientist

Job Reference: MO-CM00461

Salary Information

Scientist - salary will start at £28,644 with opportunities to progress within the role up to the maximum of £33,260 paFoundation Scientist - salary will start at £22,361 with opportunities to progress within the role up to the maximum of £26,119 pa

Background

The Met Office carries out a broad range of research which underpins all our products and services. From weather and ocean forecasting to climate prediction, our scientists work on improving our scientific understanding of weather and climate, developing the science that plays a pivotal role in ensuring the critical Met Office services and advice are world-leading.

The Ocean Forecasting Research & Development (OFR&D) group develop, evaluate, maintain and support a range of operational ocean and wave models. The group is responsible for the science behind the satellite and model based (re)analyses and the forecasts produced by the Met Office for the world's oceans and regional seas. Increasingly, the OFR&D group are working on coupled Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) systems to investigate coupled ocean-atmosphere forecasting on weather timescales. The group creates products which are central to the EU Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service, to support Naval operations and to provide information of use to commercial customers.

The Shelf Seas Forecasting team within OFR&D is responsible for implementing developments into the shelf components of the operational Forecast Ocean Assimilation Model (FOAM) system, primarily focused on the shelf seas around the UK, but also including other regions of UK interest. They maintain and support the systems which are used to produce daily operational analyses and forecasts. These ocean modelling systems are becoming increasingly complicated, with advances in data assimilation, ocean-wave-atmosphere coupling and the move from deterministic to ensemble methods all increasingly providing scientific challenges.

Job Purpose

The Shelf Seas modeller will work within the Shelf Seas Forecasting team to develop, maintain and support the Shelf Seas FOAM ocean systems, providing forecasts to the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service, the Royal Navy and others.

For more information on the post please contact Marina Tonani, Copernicus Marine Coordinator, or John Siddorn, Head of Ocean Forecasting

Job Responsibilities

The Shelf Seas modeller will work with other team members to develop the Shelf Seas FOAM system, applying scientific knowledge to the operational implementation of new modelling and data assimilation components. The Shelf Sea modeller will contribute to:

the design of new and innovative Shelf Seas Forecasting systems;

defining, and implementing, the pre-operational trialling strategy;

the scientific validation of the systems.

They will undertake scientific research to support the development of the Shelf Seas FOAM system;
They will work with Shelf Seas Forecasting scientists to support and develop the Shelf Seas Forecasting systems;
They will support the operational team in ensuring the system is of the highest quality and routinely provides world-leading information for ocean forecast users;
They will work closely with developers, internal and external to the Met Office, of the ocean modelling and assimilation systems (NEMO, NEMOVAR and ERSEM) to ensure developments are appropriately implemented and evaluated for forecasting purposes;
They will contribute to the reviewing and testing of code changes, upholding the correct development procedures, ensuring that code changes meet the software standards and quality criteria as detailed in the working practices of the They will attend international meetings and conferences to present their work, and to continue to develop their scientific skills and profile;
They will attend international meetings and conferences to present their work, and to continue to develop their scientific skills and profile;
They will develop and maintain strong links with related scientific research and development activities in the Met Office and across the wider community, sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues and wider community to enhance effectiveness and collaboration.

Essential Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

Degree (2:1 or above, a 2:2 may be considered in exceptional circumstances) and Scientist: A PhD or equivalent research experience in ocean science, data assimilation or a closely related area.

Good understanding of numerical modelling and data assimilation. Scientist Experience in developing and using numerical models or data assimilation methods

Experience in the development and use of scientific software.

Evidence of good oral and written scientific communication skills and a demonstrated ability to communicate scientific and technical information. Scientist Relevant scientific papers published in peer-reviewed literature.

Ability to work in a united way with scientists and technical staff.

Demonstrated drive to deliver high quality output in a timely fashion through effective planning.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills & Abilities

Experience in using and developing marine data assimilation systems.

Experience in using and developing ocean models

Experience of scientific studies including the use of ocean or similar observations

Additional Supplementary Information

Full-time, part-time and job share applications are invited. The Met Office is an equal opportunities employer and flexible and UK home working applications will be considered. There will be a requirement for staff to attend training and induction in Exeter initially. The role may require travel out with Exeter and UK as part of your development plan.

We are a "Disability Confident" employer, Mindful Employer, with an Athena Swan Bronze award for our work on gender equality and an LGBTi network.

To apply, please click on the 'apply' button below to submit an online application.

Key Dates: Closing date 24/03/2019 with interviews expected in April. Please note that you will be notified if you are successful or unsuccessful.

Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during these exercises, please include this information in your application.

Please note, when joining the Met Office all new employees will start on the salary band minimum.

This role will nominally be based in Exeter but we will consider applicants wishing to work elsewhere within the UK.

This recruitment post is not offering UK Visa and Sponsorship and therefore requires all applicants to be eligible to work within the UK / EU without restriction.

If you are a non-EU candidate you will be required to provide and attach all relevant eligibility documentation to your application at the time of applying.

published: 07 March 2019Please mention EARTHWORKS when responding to this advertisement.